Plea on apex court judge’s date of birth rejected (Lead)

New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Wednesday dismissed a non-resident Indian’s plea seeking direction to the government to hold an inquiry to determine the date of birth of Justice Altamas Kabir of the Supreme Court.

Justice Kabir is in line to become the next chief justice of India in September.

“The petition is totally motivated and is dismissed with a cost quantified as Rs.20,000,” the court said.

“There is no question of an inquiry to determine the age of Justice Altamas Kabir at this stage,” the bench said, adding that proper verifications were carried out before any person was elevated as a judge of high court.

The court also took note of the submission made by Additional Solicitor General A.S. Chandhiok, appearing for the government, that the petition was a motivated one.

He said Hoon had earlier lost a case in the Calcutta High Court when Justice Kabir was posted there.

Hoon alleged that he was given a “very evasive” response when he filed a right to information application on the issue.